Suspended shelving

ABSTRACT

This application relates to shelving for suspension from the eaves of a roof. The suspended shelving includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelves which are carried on a frame having a hanger connected to the upper extremity thereof. The hanger includes a transversely projecting cleat for extension under the marginal extremity of the roofing and is formed with a plurality of claws for biting into the roof whereby the cleat may be inserted under the marginal edge of the roofing and secured to the roof without removal of such roofing.

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Attorney-Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee and Utecht ABSTRACT: Thisapplication relates to shelving for suspension from the eaves of a roof.The suspended shelving includes a plurality of vertically spaced shelveswhich are carried on a frame having a hanger connected to the upperextremity thereof. The hanger includes a transversely projecting cleatfor extension under the marginal extremity of the roofing and is formedwith a plurality of claws for biting into the roof whereby the cleat maybe inserted under the marginal edge of ng and secured to the roofwithout removal of such 1" MM a ym b H we U 80 a M H mm W mm M x U 5w rY. t I mm wm P mm mwmmm w HS H 2 2 2 m mm m 2 s 5 3 mnmmn N m In 3 m H.m ma NM 0 u 5 E m m T m w mm CB mm w Mr W m Ar w m m w mm m m m I. n REYDD "5 Eu m m M m m m U E a L m w u cs i. 5 won mm a 8 q M... U101 "M. fib. D BU U 1 AIEIIIFII JUMP? IHYI SHEET 2 [IF 3 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

INVIZNTOR.

3 WWW M W p u m m PATENTEU JUN22 |97| SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTOR. LEW/S k.Jams-5e BY iMW ATTORNEYS SUSPENDED SHELVING This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 713,166 filed Mar. 14, 1968now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to shelving for being suspended from the roof of ahouse to support painting paraphernalia or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are no prior art shelvingapparatuses known to applicant which include a hanger having atransversely projecting cleat which is readily insertable under themarginal edge of the roofing on a roof for convenient securement to suchroof without removal of the roofing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized bysuspended shelving including a plurality of vertically spaced shelvessupported from a frame having a hanger connected to the upper extremitythereof. The hanger includes a transversely projecting cleat which isinsertable under the marginal edge of roofing for securementto the roof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspendedshelving apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view in enlarged scale, taken along theline 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along theline 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial side view, in enlarged scale, of the shelvingapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail side elevational view, in enlarged scale, of a hangerincluded in the suspended shelving shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shelving apparatus shown in FIG. 1,such apparatus being shown supported by legs;

FIG. 7 is a broken bottom view, in enlarged scale, of the shelvingapparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, takenalong the line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the shelvingapparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the shelving apparatus shown inFIG. 8 supported from a translating dolly;

FIG. 11 is a detail end view, in enlarged scale, of the dolly shown inFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along theline 1Ll2 of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are detail views, in enlarged scale, of a hangerincluded in the suspended shelving shown in FIG. 9 and depicting suchhanger in two different positions; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view, in enlarged scale, of a second hanger foruse with the suspended shelving shown in FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, theshelving apparatus of present invention includes a knockdown frame Fsuspended from a hanger H including a transversely projecting cleat C(FIG. 5) that may be conveniently-inserted under the lower marginaledges of the roofing shingles 15 for securement to the roof. A pluralityof shelves S, S and S are supported from the frame F for receivingpainting paraphernalia and the like (not shown).

The shelves S, S and S may be of different sizes and are generallyrectangularly shaped and include raised peripheral borders 22. The topshelf S includes a pair of vertical bores 18 and 20 for projection ofportions of internally threaded fittings l7 and 19. The fittings I7 and19 are rcmovably attached to the upper shelf S and include throughthreaded bores 21 and 23, respectively, therein for receiving thethreaded upper extremities of tubular frame members 25 and 27,respectively.

The middle shelf S includes a pair of through bores 29 and 30 forreceiving internally threaded fittings 31 and 33, into which thethreaded lower extremities of the tubular members 25 and 27 are screwed.The bottom ends of the tubes 25 and 27 project downwardly beyond therespective fittings 31 and 33 and receive couplings 34 and 35. The upperextremities of the tubular members 37 and 39 are screwed into thecouplings 34 and 35, respectively, and their lower extremities arescrewed into fittings 41 and 43 attached to the lower shelf S".

A bale, generally designated 47, formed by a pair of tubes 51 and 53,mounts the hanger H on the frame F. The lower extremities of the tubes51 and 53 extend slidably into the upper extremity of the open-endedtubes 25 and 27, respectively. Bores 55 and 57 are included in the wallsof the tubes 25 and 27, respectively, for receipt of set screws 61 and63 which lock the bale 47 in position.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the hanger H includes a bracket 67 which isconnected to the upper extremity of the connected-together tubes 51 and53 by bolts 71 and 73. Referring to FIG. 3, a pie-shaped web 75 ispivotally connected on its lower apex to the bracket 67 by a pivot pin79. The bracket 67 includes a pair of aligned bores 81 and 82 andaccurately arranged bores 83 in the web 75 register therewith as the web75 is pivoted on the pivot pin 79. A nut and bolt assembly 87 extendsthrough the bores 81 and 82 and the particular bore 83 registeredtherewith to lock the web in a desired angled position. The cleat Cprojects from the forward edge of the web 75 and includes a plurality ofdownwardly extending nails or claws 91.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, a pair of struts, generally designated and97, are affixed to opposite sides of the lower shelf S" by means ofpivot pins 101 and 103, respectively. The struts 95 and 97 each includea female tube 105 and a male rod 107 telescoped thereinto. Referring toFIG. 8, a nut 109 is welded to the wall of the tube 105 and a screw 111is screwed thereinto and projects through a bore 112 within the wall ofthe female tube 105 to abut the male rod 107 to hold it in telescopicalrelationship relative to the female tube 105. The projecting ends of therods 107 include caps or cushions 113 to prevent marring the paintedsurface on the side of the house being painted.

Clips 1 14 are mounted on the sides of the shelf S" for selectivelyengaging the legs 95 and 97 to hold them in their collapsed positionalongside the shelf S as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

A pair of brackets 115 and 116 are affixed to the bottom of the shelf 8"and include centrally threaded bores 119 and 121 for receivingtelescopical legs 123 and 125.

In use of the aforedescribed shelving apparatus, the cleat C is adjustedto the particular angle of the roof pitch for the house to be painted.This is accomplished by removing the adjustment bolt 87, rotating theweb 75 to cause the cleat C to extend at the desired angle andreinserting the bolt 87. The cleat C can then be extended under theroofing on the eaves and the nails or claws 91 will penetrate the woodenroof members as the weight of the apparatus is put thereon thussuspending such apparatus. The struts 9S and 97 can be then disengagedfrom the clamps 114 and pivoted to extend towards the building as shownin FIG. 1, and such struts telescoped to the appropriate length to holdthe bottom of the apparatus slightly away from the building therebymaintaining the pads 113 frictionally against the wall of the buildingand supporting the shelf apparatus against swaying to and fro.

When the lower portion of the walls of a building are being painted itmay be desirable to insert extension members 131 in the upperextremities of the tubes 25 and 27, respectively, and mount the bale 47thereon, as shown in FIG. 4. With this arrangement, the shelves will bedisposed sufficiently low on the side of the building to enable thepainter to have convenient access thereto while he is painting the lowerwalls.

The shelving apparatus may be used to paint the interior of a house whenit is desirable to set such apparatus on the floor. To this end the legs123 and 125 are screwed into the brackets 115 and 1 16, respectively,and the struts 95 and 97 are rotated into the positions shown in FIG. 5and the rods 107 telescoped to provide the desired height. The legs 123and 125 may, likewise, be adjusted to support the shelves S, S and S atthe desired elevation.

When it is desirable to disassemble the shelving apparatus for storageor cartage, the set screws 61 and 63 are removed and the bale 47 liftedfrom engagement with tubes 25 and 27. The bolts 71 and 73 are thenremoved to free the bracket 67 and disconnect the tubes 51 and 53. Oneof the fittings 17 or 19 is then removed and the associated tube 25 or27 unscrewed from its respective fitting 31 or 33. The remaining tubes37 and 39 can then be disconnected and the shelves S, S and S" stackedone on the other and frame components neatly arranged for convenientpackaging or carrying.

The shelving apparatus shown in FIG. 9 includes a frame formed by a pairof vertical side tubes 141 and 143 which have vertically spaced shelves147, 149 and 151 supported therefrom by means of hinge plates 155. Thehinge plates 155 are affixed to the respective shelves 147, 149 and 151and are pivotally carried from the respective tubes 141 and 143 by meansof pivot pins 157 and include arcuate slots 161 which receive adjustmentscrews 165 whereby such screws may be loosened to pivot the respectiveshelves 147 149 and 151 to a vertical disposition to be relativelycoplanar with the tubes 141 and 143 to provide a rather compact packagefor storage. It is noted that the top shelf 151 is pivoted in theopposite direction of the shelves 147 and 149 to facilitate storage.

The tubes 141 and 143 are open on their top ends and a bale, generallydesignated 171, is formed with a pair of downwardly projecting tines 173and 175 which are received in the upper extremities of the respectivetubes 141 and 143 and are secured in position by lock studs 181 (FIG.9).

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a hanger, generally designated 185, isconnected with the upper extremity of the bale 171 and includes avertical post 187 which has a transverse cleat 189 pivotally connectedtherewith by means of a pivot pin 191. The cleat 189 includes aplurality of downwardly projecting claws 193 for biting into the roofand has a lock tab 195 affixed to the upper side thereof, the purpose ofwhich will be made apparent hereinafter. The cleat 189 projectsrearwardly from the pivot pin 191 to form an arm 197 which includes atransversely extending tab 201 having a bore therein for receipt of anut and bolt assembly 203 which may be utilized for connecting one endof a strut, generally designated 205, therewith. The strut 205 is formedwith a longitudinal slot 207 which receives a mounting bolt 209 thatsupports such strut from the upper extremity of the post 187. The lowerend of the strut 205 includes a bore for receipt of the nut and boltassembly 203 whereby the lower end of such strut 207 may be pivoted tothe position shown in FIG. 13 and connected with the arm 197 to anglethe cleat 189 to accommodate the pitch of a roof. It is noted that thereare several adjustment bores 211 in the strut 205 to provide for furtheradjustment for the slope of the cleat 189. The strut 205 may also berotated to the position shown in FIG. 12 and its lower end secured tothe cleat 189 to hold the arm 197 extending horizontally for hookingover a horizontal surface such as the top edge of an open door.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a transfer dolly D is provided forconveniently carrying the shelving for translation along the eaves of aroof. The dolly D includes a flat body 215 which is supported on twopairs of wheels 217 joumaled on transverse shafts 219, which are securedto the under side of the frame 215 by means of pivot joints 223. Theframe 215 is formed with forwardly and rearwardly opening cutouts 227and 229, respectively, and adjustment brackets 225 are disposed adjacentthereto and secured to the underside of such frame and are formed withnotches 226 and 228 for selectively receiving the extremities of therespective shafts 219 to set the desired angle of such shafts forpurposes which will be made clear hereinafter.

A pair of guides, generally designated 231 and 233, are secured to thedolly D and include brackets 235 which are bent downwardly and supportrollers 237 for engagement with the edge of the caves to limit thedistance which the dolly D may move up the roof away from such edge. Ahook 238 is pivotally connected on one end to the dolly D and has itsfree end engageable with an eye 239 to secure the cleat 189 to the dollyD.

Referring to FIG. 14, a wheel hanger, generally designated 241, isprovide for securement to the bale 171 and includes a wheel 243 forrolling along the upper edge of the outer wall of an eave trough 245.The wheel 243 includes a plurality of radially extending spokes 251engaged behind the wall of the gutter 245 to hold the wheel 243 inposition. The spokes 251 are spaced circumferentially on the wheel 243to enable hanger brackets 251 which suspend the gutter 245 to beaccommodated as the wheel rolls therealong.

A pair of pivotal struts 261 and 263 are pivotally supported on theirone ends from one side of the lower shelf 147 and may be pivoted intoposition to space such shelf from the sidewall of a building from theeaves of which the apparatus is suspended or may, alternatively, beturned downwardly and a pair of legs similar to those shown in FIG. 6installed on the other side of the shelf 147 to support the apparatus ona floor for painting a house interior, or the like.

In operation, the shelving apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 through 15 isutilized in a manner similar to that for the shelving shown in FIG. 1except that the angle of the hanging cleat 189 is set by locking theadjustment bolt 209 (FIG. 13) in a selected position in the slot 207 orin one of the adjustment bores 211. The shelving may then convenientlybe suspended as shown without removal of the shingles 15. When theshelving is to be stored, the lock nuts may be conveniently loosened andthe two lower shelves 147 and 149 pivoted in one direction to beoriented generally coplanar with the tubes 141 and 143 and the top shelf151 pivoted in the opposite direction to also be disposed generallycoplanar with the tubes 141 and 143. The bale 171 may easily be removedfor storage by loosening the locking studs 181.

Referring to FIG. 10, the shelving may be suspended from the dolly D bymerely placing the cleat 189 on the dolly D and hooking the hook 238thereover whereby the clip will engage such hook. The dolly is thenplaced on the lower edge of the eaves and for travel in the direction ofthe directional arrow 271. The shaft 219 is pivoted forwardly on itslower end as shown in FIG. 10 and locked in the depression 229 (FIG.11). The dolly D can then be pulled along the roof and the wheels 217will tend to draw it upwardly along the pitch of the roof and suchupward movement will be limited by the guides 231 and 233 to therebymaintain the dolly at a selected distance from a roof edge.

When the shelving is utilized to paint a house having an eave trough245, the wheel hanger 241 may be attached and utilized for suspendingthe shelving from the cave trough as shown in FIG. 14. When a hanger 251is encountered, the wheel 243 will easily pass thereover while beingretained on the wall 245.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the shelving apparatus ofpresent invention is straightforward in design and economical tomanufacture. The shelving apparatus is readily adjustable from one pitchroof to the next and is conveniently suspended from a building roof.Further, the apparatus can conveniently be assembled and disassembled.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to theforegoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

lclaim:

1. Suspended shelving for suspension from the eaves of a roof havingroofing thereon, said apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of vertically spaced shelves;

means for securing said shelves on said frame;

a hanger connected to the top of said frame and including a transverselyprojecting cleat for extension under the marginal extremity of theroofing and including claws for biting into the roof whereby said cleatmay be extended under said roofing and said claws inserted to securesaid hanger to said roof without removal of said roofing.

2. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said cleat is pivotal to different angles to accommodate different pitchroofs and said hanger includes locking means for locking said cleat indifferent angular settings.

3. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a wheel secured to the upper extremity of said frame for rolling alongthe upper edge of an eaves trough wall and including a radial extensionfor engagement behind said trough wall to maintain said wheel trackingalong said upper edge of said trough wall. r

4. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said cleat is pivotally connected to said frame and includes an armprojecting rearwardly of the pivotal connection and said hanger includesa strut pivotally connected on one end to said frame and means forselectively connecting the opposite end of said strut with said cleat tohold said arm disposed horizontally and for selectively connecting saidopposite end with said arm to hold said cleat at an angle whereby saidapparatus may be suspended from an angled roof by said cleat or from ahorizontal member by said arm.

5. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said means for securing said shelves to said frame includes pivotelements about which said respective shelves may be rotated to avertical orientation for storage of said apparatus.

6. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a dolly including a plurality of wheels for supporting said dolly onsaid roof, at least one of said wheels being adapted to be angled totend to draw said dolly away from the edge of said roof as said dolly ismoved in one direction therealong;

a guide carried on said dolly and projecting downwardly to engage theedge of said roof to limit dolly travel thereaway from; and

means for securing said cleat to said dolly whereby said dolly may beplaced on said roof, said cleat secured thereto, and said dolly moved insaid one direction to move said shelving along said roof.

7. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said frame includes a pair of upwardly opening vertical tubes, 21 baleconnected on its upper end with said hanger and including a pair ofdownwardly projecting tines telescoped into said tubes and means forlocking said tines into said tubes.

8. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a pair of struts pivotally connected on their respective one ends to oneside of the bottom shelf and selectively pivotal to extend horizontallyto engage the wall of a building from which said shelving is suspendedor to project downwardly in a supporting position; and

a leg for connection to the side of said bottom shelf opposite said oneextremity; and

means for connecting one extremity of said leg to said bottom shelf.

9. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said frame includes a pair of upwardly opening hollow frame members;

a pair of extension elements having respective one ends extendable intothe top end of said member;

coupling means for coupling said elements to said members;

and a bale having said hanger connected to the top thereof and includinga pair of downwardly projecting tines; and

means for connecting the upper ends of said respective extensionelements with said tines.

1. Suspended shelving for suspension from the eaves of a roof havingroofing thereon, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a plurality ofvertically spaced shelves; means for securing said shelves on saidframe; a hanger connected to the top of said frame and including atransversely projecting cleat for extension under the marginal extremityof the roofing and including claws for biting into the roof whereby saidcleat may be extended under said roofing and said claws inserted tosecure said hanger to said roof without removal of said roofing. 2.Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said cleat ispivotal to different angles to accommodate different pitch roofs andsaid hanger includes locking means for locking said cleat in differentangular settings.
 3. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 thatincludes: a wheel secured to the upper extremity of said frame forrolling along the upper edge of an eaves trough wall and including aradial extension for engagement behind said trough wall to maintain saidwheel tracking along said upper edge of said trough wall.
 4. Suspendedshelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said cleat is pivotallyconnected to said frame and includes an arm projecting rearwardly of thepivotal connection and said hanger includes a strut pivotally connectedon one end to said frame and means for selectively connecting theopposite end of said strut with said cleat to hold said arm disposedhorizontally and for selectively connecting said opposite end with saidarm to hold said cleat at an angle whereby said apparatus may besuspended from an angled roof by said cleat or from a horizontal memberby said arm.
 5. Suspended shelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein: saidmeans for securing said shelves to said frame includes pivot elementsabout which said respective shelves may be rotated to a verticalorientation for storage of said apparatus.
 6. Suspended shelving as setforth in claim 1 that includes: a dolly including a plurality of wheelsfor supporting said dolly on said roof, at least one of said wheelsbeing adapted to be angled to tend to draw said dolly away from the edgeof said roof as said dolly is moved in one direction therealong; a guidecarried on said dolly and projecting downwardly to engage the edge ofsaid roof to limit dolly travel thereaway from; and means for securingsaid cleat to said dolly whereby said dolly may be placed on said roof,said cleat secured thereto, and said dolly moved in said one directionto move said shelving along said roof.
 7. Suspended shelving as setforth in claim 1 wherein: said frame includes a pair of upwardly openingvertical tubes, a bale connected on its upper end with said hanger andincluding a pair of downwardly projecting tines telescoped into saidtubes and means for locking said tines into said tubes.
 8. Suspendedshelving as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a pair of strutspivotally connected on their respective one ends to one side of thebottom shelf and selectively pivotal to extend horizontally to engagethe wall of a building from which said shelving is suspended or toproject downwardly in a supporting position; and a leg for connection tothe side of said bottom shelf opposite said one extremity; and means forconnecting one extremity of said leg to said bottom shelf.
 9. Suspendedshelving as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said frame includes a pair ofupwardly opening hollow frame members; a pair of extension elementshaving respective one ends extendable into the top end of said member;coupling means for coupling said elements to said members; and a balehaving said hanger connected to the top thereof and including a pair ofdownwardly projecting tines; and means for connecting the upper ends ofsaid respective extension elements with said tines.